Launching a Weather Balloon

Today we launched a weather balloon. This balloon measures ozone, temperature, pressure, and relative humidity. People take measurements from airplanes use this data to decide at what altitude to fly. The balloon is filled with helium and only takes a couple of minutes to fully inflate. Filling up the balloon can be a challenge because of the sometimes high winds here. We have to be careful not to touch the balloon with any sharp objects or else it can cause a leak. Because pressure decreases as altitude increases, the balloon will expand as it rises. Eventually it will reach a diameter of about thirty feet! Then the balloon will pop and the payload will fall to the land with the help of a parachute.

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